06-10-2017, 02:50 AM
The Imperial Galleon fired off three cannons, but in the end there was nothing that it could do but await its fate as the massive behemoth of wood and metal plowed directly into its side, splintering the vessel in a violent explosion of broken timbers and flailing rope. The Trading vessel closed from behind, trying to gain as much ground as possible before the warship decided to finish them off as well. If they could get behind the vessel, then they would be out of the arc of fire for at least part of their approach.
The Sage was at the prow of the vessel, along with some of the strongest crewmembers, attempting to wrestle with their lone functional cannon, pulling it free of its locks and turning it to point just to the left of the front of their ship. The Sage looked up as one of the younger boys on the crew brought the bucket of oil he had requested. This was quite likely to end very badly, but they didn’t have a lot of better options.
Taking the bucket, the Sage grabbed one of the nearby cannonballs and poured oil onto it. He would need to time this spell carefully, otherwise he would lose his hand. As he let go of the cannonball he muttered the incantation and his hands burst with a slight flame, igniting the oil that dripped down the ball and coating it in flame. He jerked away as the cannonball reached the gunpowder and immediately fired out, the now flaming shot arcing away from the barrel and towards the rear of the warship.
“They won’t let us keep doing this for long!” the Sage shouted as the crew reloaded the cannon as quickly as possible. They were closing in on the rear of the vessel, though it was turning around to present them with its broad side. There was a decent chance they’d have reloaded the volley by now.
He repeated the maneuver with the cannonball, feeling the heated rush of air as he pulled his hands away. The lit cannonball sailed away and impacted the back side of the vessel. Hopefully the shots were starting fires internally, otherwise this was mostly wasted effort. He fired a third shot before noticing that the crewmen were looking at him strangely.
“What is it?” he asked, motioning for them to reload the cannon again, “Keep up the pace! We need to cause as much distraction as possible, otherwise we’ll all be splinters in a matter of moments.” They did so, but continued giving him that strange glance. Almost accusatory.
“Well speak up.” The Sage said as he applied the oil to another cannonball. Given the plan he and the imperial officer had agreed to, it was the least he could do to treat the crewman with respect.
“Why ain’t you just shooting fire at the ship? Since yer a wizard an all that…” asked the one man, his draw making the words sound slower to the sage’s ears.
He had expecting something along this line of questioning, but he didn’t have an answer that would satisfy the man. Yes, I am a failure as a wizard, We’ve been over this! He thought with frustration. He didn’t have time to revisit that conversation with his father right now. Instead he decided to ignore what would likely end up being this poor man’s last request.
“Keep firing! Aim for a variety of spots so they can’t fix it all at once! I’m going to solve the next problem.”
The Sage raced back towards the middle of the ship and began to scale the rigging again. The merchant ship was swaying as the officer attempted to pull up beside the back flank of the warship. Their quarry had pretty much stopped dead in the water and was turning to face them with the broadside of its cannons they had closed considerably, but not enough for it to matter. The many cannons of the dwarven warhulk tore into the ill-prepared trading vessel, splintering wood and bone with little distinction. Any farther away and the ship would likely have been torn to shreds.
The Sage clung to the swaying mast, working momentum. The officer was an impressive helmsman, and the trading vessel drew very close to the warship. The polished barrel of a cannon stared him down. Through the hole of the gun port he could see the surprised face of a dwarf. the pirate raised a pistol, but a pair of bolas whipped around his beard and throught, causing him to stumble backwards with a gasp. The Sage braced himself against the cracking wood, and jumped.
The Sage was at the prow of the vessel, along with some of the strongest crewmembers, attempting to wrestle with their lone functional cannon, pulling it free of its locks and turning it to point just to the left of the front of their ship. The Sage looked up as one of the younger boys on the crew brought the bucket of oil he had requested. This was quite likely to end very badly, but they didn’t have a lot of better options.
Taking the bucket, the Sage grabbed one of the nearby cannonballs and poured oil onto it. He would need to time this spell carefully, otherwise he would lose his hand. As he let go of the cannonball he muttered the incantation and his hands burst with a slight flame, igniting the oil that dripped down the ball and coating it in flame. He jerked away as the cannonball reached the gunpowder and immediately fired out, the now flaming shot arcing away from the barrel and towards the rear of the warship.
“They won’t let us keep doing this for long!” the Sage shouted as the crew reloaded the cannon as quickly as possible. They were closing in on the rear of the vessel, though it was turning around to present them with its broad side. There was a decent chance they’d have reloaded the volley by now.
He repeated the maneuver with the cannonball, feeling the heated rush of air as he pulled his hands away. The lit cannonball sailed away and impacted the back side of the vessel. Hopefully the shots were starting fires internally, otherwise this was mostly wasted effort. He fired a third shot before noticing that the crewmen were looking at him strangely.
“What is it?” he asked, motioning for them to reload the cannon again, “Keep up the pace! We need to cause as much distraction as possible, otherwise we’ll all be splinters in a matter of moments.” They did so, but continued giving him that strange glance. Almost accusatory.
“Well speak up.” The Sage said as he applied the oil to another cannonball. Given the plan he and the imperial officer had agreed to, it was the least he could do to treat the crewman with respect.
“Why ain’t you just shooting fire at the ship? Since yer a wizard an all that…” asked the one man, his draw making the words sound slower to the sage’s ears.
He had expecting something along this line of questioning, but he didn’t have an answer that would satisfy the man. Yes, I am a failure as a wizard, We’ve been over this! He thought with frustration. He didn’t have time to revisit that conversation with his father right now. Instead he decided to ignore what would likely end up being this poor man’s last request.
“Keep firing! Aim for a variety of spots so they can’t fix it all at once! I’m going to solve the next problem.”
The Sage raced back towards the middle of the ship and began to scale the rigging again. The merchant ship was swaying as the officer attempted to pull up beside the back flank of the warship. Their quarry had pretty much stopped dead in the water and was turning to face them with the broadside of its cannons they had closed considerably, but not enough for it to matter. The many cannons of the dwarven warhulk tore into the ill-prepared trading vessel, splintering wood and bone with little distinction. Any farther away and the ship would likely have been torn to shreds.
The Sage clung to the swaying mast, working momentum. The officer was an impressive helmsman, and the trading vessel drew very close to the warship. The polished barrel of a cannon stared him down. Through the hole of the gun port he could see the surprised face of a dwarf. the pirate raised a pistol, but a pair of bolas whipped around his beard and throught, causing him to stumble backwards with a gasp. The Sage braced himself against the cracking wood, and jumped.
If history is to become legend, it first must be recorded.